intro + questions

[Guest guest]

I've been lurking on this group for a month now and I

felt it was my turn to share my story. I've been

going back and forth on upper & lower jaw surgery to

correct an underbite since I was 17, seven years ago.

I declined then b/c I was fearful of the risks

involved and I didn't know anyone that had gone

through this procedure. I shelved the idea and went

to college w/out even thinking about it for 4-5 years.

After graduation I started thinking about it again,

but I had a really intense financial job that

discouaraged prolonged absenses. I met w/ an OS again

but didn't go any further than a consultation. Skip

to the present and all I think about is having this

operation and just getting past it. Which leads me to

some questions that I haven't seen asked yet:

1) If you had braces as a kid and you are satisfied w/

the straigtness of your current smile, do you need

braces to have jaw surgery?

2) Has anyone gone from initial consultation to the

operating table in weeks rather than months?

3) Has anyone had porcelein veneers placed on their

teeth prior or post operation? Did they chip off?

Are you happy? This is primarily why I'm planning on

going ahead w/ this operation. A cosmetic doctor

HIGHLY recommended I get my bite taken care of prior

to the placement of the veneers b/c my current bite

would place to much pressure on the veneers and cause

them to break.

4) Has anyone had a rhinoplasty operation prior to

their jaw operation. I understand that they place

some tubes up your nose. Did your doctor recommend

waiting any particular length of time to let your nose

heal first?

5) Of the food suggestions I've seen posted I can't

think of a single thing that appealed to me: ie. I

don't eat soups, I hate dairy products, and I can't

see myself liking products like boost / ensure (yeah,

I know, it's not fair to judge it before I try it...).

Clearly, I'm a very picky eater. Is it possible to

blend up soft white bread and water it down and " eat "

it that way if your wired shut? Can anything be

grinded up into a pulp, combined w/ water, and just

swallowed?

6) Does jaw surgery fall under health insurance or

dental insurance? I'm thinking dental but my dad

thought it would be health...

I'm sure I forgot some questions, but I'll be sure to

ask them as I make this long journey. I'm grateful to

have such a valuable support group that has given me

the confidence to pursue this surgery.

thanks